After ten weeks of falling prices, the cost of gas actually went up in Tennessee this week, according to AAA.
The state gas price average is now $1.60 which is six cents more expensive than last week, four cents less than one month ago and 98 cents less than one year ago.
“Tennessee motorists are seeing the first increases at the pump since late February,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA - The Auto Club Group. “The boost in demand as the state begins its phased reopening is helping to push pump prices higher across the state.”
The average price in Knoxville on Monday was $1.56, up seven cents from a week ago but still almost a dollar cheaper than last year at this time.
Right now, 33% of Tennessee filling stations are charging less than $1.50 per gallon of regular gas.
Gas is most expensive in Nashville ($1.75), Jackson ($1.61) and Chattanooga ($1.60) while the cheapest metro markets in Tennessee are in Kingsport ($1.48), Memphis ($1.51), Johnson City ($1.52)
As a state, Tennessee has the 9th cheapest gas in the country. The national average right now is $1.84.